Author: Haitham Razagui

VASA VP Brett Meads outlines refrigerant risks to ARTSA Heavy Vehicle Fire conference in Sydney

VASA Vice-President Brett Meads delivered a talk to the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) conference about the causes and prevention of heavy vehicle fires in Sydney on August 15. Brett’s presentation provided an overview of the changes in refrigerants used in automotive AC applications, including the environmental drivers for these changes. Time was spent … Continue reading VASA VP Brett Meads outlines refrigerant risks to ARTSA Heavy Vehicle Fire conference in Sydney

Major auto retailer cops heavy fine for importing a bus containing R134a without a permit

Importing a bus with an air-conditioning system containing R134a has landed a “major automotive retailer” in hot water. The News South Wales-based business copped a $12,600 fine under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act for bringing in equipment charged with a controlled refrigerant without an appropriate licence. According to The Department, the … Continue reading Major auto retailer cops heavy fine for importing a bus containing R134a without a permit

Campaign to redefine the Oxford Dictionaries definition of ‘car’

Despite winning 2019 World Car of the Year, 2019 European Car of the Year and numerous other accolades, the Jaguar I-Pace does not fit the Oxford Dictionaries definition of a car as it is not powered by an internal combustion engine. As such, Jaguar has launched a campaign to have the definition changed. The current … Continue reading Campaign to redefine the Oxford Dictionaries definition of ‘car’

EV & hybrid expert Craig Van Batenburg to train at Wire & Gas 2020

World renowned hybrid and EV repair expert Craig Van Batenburg from the United States is confirmed to train at Wire & Gas 2020 on his first-ever visit to Australia. A workshop owner turned training provider through his Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC) in Worcester, Massachusetts, Craig’s peerless knowledge of vehicle electrification stems from his first … Continue reading EV & hybrid expert Craig Van Batenburg to train at Wire & Gas 2020

A new guide on how to work safely on vehicles where it is known or suspected that flammable refrigerants may be present is now available for free download by VASA members and is essential reading. This document is the result of a groundbreaking project between Refrigerant Reclaim Australia, VASA and GHD Engineering to study the … Continue reading Groundbreaking Australian research behind new flammable refrigerants safety guide

Industry opposes ‘Retrofit and Modify’ Unit of Competency throughout consultancy process

VASA and other industry bodies including Australian Refrigeration Council and Refrigerants Australia are continuing to oppose the inclusion of a ‘retrofit and modify’ Unit of Competency now that feedback has been invited for draft training products in the Automotive – Light Vehicle category developed by PwC’s Skills for Australia. The VASA board strongly believes that … Continue reading Industry opposes ‘Retrofit and Modify’ Unit of Competency throughout consultancy process

HVACR sector saving the planet, one refrigerant cylinder at a time

UNDER the stewardship scheme operated by Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA), the nation’s HVACR sector has prevented refrigerant emissions equivalent to more than 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide since 1993. To put it another way, this amount of CO2 would fill more than 10 ballons the size of Earth. Australia is a world leader in recovering, … Continue reading HVACR sector saving the planet, one refrigerant cylinder at a time

Car manufacturing could soon return to South Australia, with two separate electric vehicle companies selecting the state as their future production bases in the same week. Australian start-up ACE-EV signed a partnership agreement with Aldom Motor Body Builders in Adelaide’s north to assemble its planned range of electric light commercial and passenger vehicles. The first … Continue reading EV production for South Australia?

A recently published report has detailed a range of potential refrigerant blends designed to replace R134a, which could serve as more environmentally friendly alternatives. The research, carried out by the US Government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratory, was focused on finding less harmful non- or marginally flammable R134a alternatives for military applications. … Continue reading More R134a alternatives on the horizon?